Sam and I recently drove down to Port Adelaide to purchase new rigging for Shearwater. We visited an old-time chandlery (at the far end of Vincent Street), which evidently caters for the lower end of town: ancient mariners, neo-luddites, and low-tech devotees.
Back in the 60’s and 70’s, Dad used to purchase galvanized turnbuckles and such-like – and in due course immerse the rusted versions in his special drum of recycled sump oil. There, more often than not, they remained forever in rehab mode.
After much thought, and little discussion, we have chosen to depart from the family tradition by purchasing stainless steel turnbuckles. They will last for as long as we last, and well beyond. We also rescued a hank of manila rope, beautifully spliced at both ends. It looked lonely hanging there, all by itself – and at any rate, Dad would most certainly have grabbed it, so we did likewise. It clearly belongs in the Boatshed – and will eventually find its home on the deck of our Tancook Whaler: as yet, a castle in the air.
Castle in the air – but at least we have the relevant construction plans….and the rope.
My family, apart from once owning part of what was once called the Black Diamond Corner, frequented a chandler in Vincent Street. Quinn’s was a name that comes to mind. I know that part of the Port pretty well and I’m glad to see it still functioning for sailors even though they be from the wrong side of King William Street
Greetings Steve. We had all our sails made by Barry Quinn of Port Adelaide: he was a family institution….
He made the big sprit-sail for Explorer (as yet untested) – and Shearwater’s new lugsail (damaged by a nautical rat, but thoroughly repaired).
A family institution. Well I’ll be. My relations were racing 14 footers off Semaphore in the Twenties and Thirties.